The air was heavy with silence.
Maybe it was Naruto's unshakable attitude. Maybe it was the sight of the bun shop owner rolling on the ground in pain. Either way, the crowd that had gathered to scorn him quickly lost their nerve.
One by one, they turned away and scattered, vanishing into the streets.
The bun shop owner, now alone and humiliated, glared at Naruto with pure resentment. His face twisted in anger as he shouted after him.
"You damn demon fox! I'll report you to the Third Hokage! You think you can just smash my stall and attack me? You'll pay for this, you filthy monster!"
Naruto had already turned to leave, but the venom in those words made him pause.
His brows furrowed.
Then, without hesitation, he pivoted on his heel and marched straight back.
"You—What do you want?!" The bun shop owner shrank back in fear, his bravado crumbling. "If you hit me again, I'll scream—"
SMACK!
SMACK!
Naruto slapped him—hard. Twice.
The fat on the man's cheeks wobbled violently as his face turned bright red and swollen.
"This," Naruto said coldly, "is for insulting me."
The man trembled, eyes wide with fear. He wanted to argue, but the words caught in his throat.
"If you want to report me, go ahead," Naruto continued. "But if you insult me again, you'll get more than just a slap. Maybe I'll just rip your mouth off next time."
Naruto gave him a last, piercing glare before turning away and walking off.
The villagers who had been watching from a distance murmured amongst themselves.
"Did you see that? That brat Naruto isn't the same as before…"
"He used to just take the insults and keep his head down. But now? He's actually fighting back."
"…Maybe we shouldn't insult him so openly anymore."
The bun shop owner lay there, stunned, as his supposed supporters distanced themselves. He whimpered, still hoping someone would defend him.
But no one did.
Even they knew—Naruto was not someone they could push around anymore.
---
On a nearby rooftop, two ANBU observed the scene.
Bear Mask let out a slow breath. "Ryosuke, you go back and report this to the Third Hokage."
Tiger Mask nodded. "And you?"
"I'm staying on Naruto's trail."
They exchanged glances, both seeing the same thought in each other's eyes—
Naruto had changed.
---
Naruto strode through the streets with his hands behind his head, a small grin tugging at his lips.
That was satisfying.
For years, he had swallowed his frustration, forced himself to endure their abuse, their hatred.
No more.
Now, he had the strength to push back. And he would.
He skipped breakfast, crossed several streets, and arrived at an empty training ground.
Today was the day of team assignments at the Academy, but it was still early. No rush.
He began his warm-up.
30 laps around the training ground.
Then came the real workout.
1000 push-ups. 500 pull-ups. 1 hour of striking practice on wooden dummies.
Sweat dripped down his face, but he didn't stop.
Before, his training was just routine. But now? He had the Eight Gates. His body needed to be pushed to the limit.
If he wanted to surpass Rock Lee, his training had to be just as brutal—if not worse.
He wasn't going to waste the power he had now.
---
Nearby, in the forest, a pair of soft lavender eyes peeked out from behind a tree.
Hinata Hyuga stood there, hands clasped tightly, watching Naruto train.
Her heart pounded as she whispered to herself, "Naruto-kun… You're amazing… I'll work hard too, so I can catch up to you…"
Her mind drifted back to when she was four years old—when she had been bullied by other kids.
And when Naruto had stood up for her.
Since that moment, his name had been carved into her heart.
---
Naruto, mid-push-up, paused to wipe his sweat.
Then, he sensed movement.
His sharp blue eyes flicked toward the trees.
He jumped to his feet. "Who's there?"
In a flash, he sprinted toward the disturbance.
"Ah—!"
Hinata panicked.
She turned, fleeing deeper into the woods. She didn't want to get caught. How could she even explain why she was watching him?
Naruto was faster.
With his newfound speed, he overtook her with ease, appearing in front of her in a blur.
Hinata froze.
"Hinata?" Naruto tilted his head. "What are you doing here?"
Hinata's face turned bright red.
Her hands fumbled, her words coming out in a stammer. "I— I wasn't… I didn't mean to… I wasn't spying on you—"
Then she realized what she said.
And her blush deepened.
Naruto blinked at her for a second—then chuckled.
She was adorable.
Why had he spent so much time chasing after Sakura back then?
How had he never noticed Hinata, who had been supporting him silently all along?
Naruto smiled at her. "Are you training too? Wanna join me?"
Hinata's breath hitched.
Her lips parted in shock.
And then—slowly, she nodded.
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